St. Patrick’s Day, a cultural and religious celebration held on the 17th of March, is a feast day commemorating the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Here are 10 interesting facts about St. Patrick’s Day that you might not know.
10 Interesting Facts About St Patrick
10 Most interesting facts about St Patrick
- St. Patrick Wasn’t Irish
- St. Patrick’s Day Was a Dry Holiday
- The Shamrock Was a Teaching Tool
- The First St. Patrick’s Day Parade
- The World Runs Up Quite a Bar Tab
- St. Patrick’s Day Is a Global Celebration
- The Chicago River Goes Green
- There Are More Irish in the U.S. Than Ireland
- St. Patrick’s Day Was a Minor Holiday in Ireland
- It Used to Be a Dry Holiday
1. St. Patrick Wasn’t Irish
It might come as a surprise to many that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, wasn’t Irish. Born in Britain around A.D. 390 to an aristocratic Christian family, St. Patrick was brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped but returned to Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to its people.
Despite his British origin, St. Patrick’s influence on Irish culture and religion was so profound that he is universally celebrated as an emblem of Irish heritage.
2. St. Patrick’s Day Was a Dry Holiday
St. Patrick’s Day, known for its lively parades and pub celebrations, was once a dry holiday in Ireland. For most of the 20th century, St. Patrick’s Day was observed as a strictly religious holiday. Until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Over time, the day has transformed from a solemn religious observance to a day of revelry and celebration of all things Irish.
3. The Shamrock Was a Teaching Tool
The shamrock, a three-leafed plant, is one of the most recognizable symbols of St. Patrick’s Day. However, it was more than just a symbol. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock as a visual guide when explaining the concept of the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – to the Irish people. The shamrock’s three leaves growing from a single stem helped illustrate the idea of three entities being part of a single whole.
4. The First St. Patrick’s Day Parade
While you might associate St. Patrick’s Day parades with Ireland, the tradition began in the United States. The first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade was held not in Dublin but in New York City in 1762.
The parade was organized by Irish soldiers serving in the English military who marched to the music of bagpipes and drums, a tradition that continues to this day.
5. The World Runs Up Quite a Bar Tab
St. Patrick’s Day is synonymous with festive spirit, symbolized by the copious amounts of green beer flowing in pubs worldwide. It’s estimated that total global spending on beer for St. Patrick’s Day is around $245 million. Interestingly, Guinness, the iconic Irish stout, sees its consumption double on St. Patrick’s Day, with people around the world consuming about 13 million pints of Guinness on this day alone.
6. St. Patrick’s Day Is a Global Celebration
St. Patrick’s Day is not just an Irish holiday. Thanks to the vast Irish diaspora, this day is celebrated with great enthusiasm worldwide. From the United States and Canada to Australia and even parts of Asia, St. Patrick’s Day has become a day to celebrate Irish culture and heritage. Parades, wearing of green attire, and public revelry have become synonymous with this day. So, no matter where you are in the world, on March 17th, everyone can be a little bit Irish.
7. The Chicago River Goes Green
One of the most spectacular sights on St. Patrick’s Day is the dyeing of the Chicago River. Since 1962, the city of Chicago has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by coloring its river green.
The dyeing of the river is done in the early morning hours and is a sight to behold. The vibrant green river against the backdrop of the city’s skyline is a beloved tradition and attracts tourists from all over the world.
8. There Are More Irish in the U.S. Than Ireland
The Irish diaspora in the United States is vast. It is estimated that there are around 34 million Americans who claim Irish ancestry. This number is more than seven times the population of Ireland itself.
This large Irish-American population has greatly influenced the way St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in the United States, with parades and festivities that are arguably larger and more extravagant than those in Ireland.
9. St. Patrick’s Day Was a Minor Holiday in Ireland
For many years, St. Patrick’s Day was a relatively minor religious holiday in Ireland. Until the 1970s, the day was observed as a religious feast day and was a quiet occasion.
It was only in the mid-1990s that the Irish government began a campaign to use St. Patrick’s Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland and Irish culture to the rest of the world. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is associated with parades, festive foods, music, dancing, and a whole lot of green.
10. It Used to Be a Dry Holiday
It might be hard to believe, especially considering the lively pub celebrations associated with it today, but St. Patrick’s Day was once a dry holiday in Ireland.
For most of the 20th century, Irish law declared St. Patrick’s Day a religious observance, which meant that all pubs were closed for the day. The law was overturned in 1961, and now the holiday is associated with hearty toasts and merrymaking.
Conclusion
St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, bringing together people from all walks of life to honor Irish heritage. The holiday’s rich history, from the non-Irish origins of St. Patrick to the first parade in New York, the use of the shamrock as a teaching tool, and the world’s substantial bar tab, all contribute to the depth and breadth of this beloved holiday.
As we partake in the festivities, these fascinating facts serve as a reminder of the profound influence of St. Patrick and the Irish culture on the world. So, whether you’re Irish by blood or just Irish at heart, let’s raise a toast to St. Patrick and the wonderful traditions that his day brings with it. Sláinte!
